Adding Value to Agriculture | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's note: The author of this post, Doug Boyd, is a contributor to ECU News Services.

Janire Pascual-Gonzalez wants to expand markets and profitability for new agricultural products. | Photos: Cliff Hollis

    Ride by an eastern North Carolina farm, and you'll see tobacco, corn, cotton, soybeans, maybe sorghum or wheat, and often some livestock.

    Janire Pascual-Gonzalez sees new sources of revenue for the state's farmers and agriculture industry.

    That's why she came to East Carolina University two years ago to take a position as a postdoctoral scholar. A chemical engineer by training with a doctorate in chemical, environmental and process engineering from the Universitat Rovira I Virgili in Spain, she's analyzing the potential and marketability of products such as bioplastics and renewable energy from sources like wood pellets and animal waste.

Pascual-Gonzalez is analyzing the potential and marketability of products such as bioplastics and renewable energy from sources like wood pellets and animal waste.
    "What brought me here was the job description," she said. "I found this amazing project that I love, so I decided to change my life and come here. The project was just like perfect. It's difficult to find projects like that when you're doing research, because we're all doing different things."

    Since arriving, Pascual-Gonzalez has been part of a joint project of ECU and N.C. State University, supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to explore value-added agricultural products. The project report is at https://bit.ly/2N9z154.

    "Jani is an incredible researcher," said Jay Golden, Pascual's mentor and former vice chancellor for research, economic development and engagement at ECU. "The results of her work on the emergent industrial bioeconomy have been recognized by multinational corporations, government leaders and fellow academics globally. In addition to her research, she has also been instrumental in mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students at ECU with tremendous passion and attention. The students really appreciate her focus on their success and approach to applied learning."

    Having worked for an engineering, safety consulting and water treatment firm before coming to America, Pascual-Gonzalez says the job of a postdoc has its own demands. "It's definitely a full-time job," she said. "You spend all your day doing research. You can do research in industry, but it was driven by objectives. Here at the university you have more freedom to be more creative."

    Her husband, Antoni Aguilar-Mogas, is also a postdoctoral scholar at ECU, specializing in big-data mining to analyze the economic structure of eastern N.C. counties as well as the economic impact of catastrophic events such as hurricanes.

    Pascual-Gonzalez will be at ECU at least two more years, and since arriving she's found some things to love about eastern North Carolina, such as the region's unique barbecue as well as its residents.

    "I love the people here," she said. "You feel so welcome here. That's so important if you are from far away."
Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published)
Enter Your Comment ( no code or urls allowed, text only please )




Sniffing out Sickness East Carolina University, School News, The Region, Neighboring Counties Champion of Diversity


HbAD0

Latest Neighboring Counties

Members of the North Carolina Rural Health Association (NCRHA) visited Washington, D.C., on Feb. 14, 2024, to meet with elected officials and advocate for policies to improve access to care in rural areas.
The US Supreme Court will not take the case of Virginia-based owners of a Dare County beach home who challenged the county's COVID-related shutdown in 2020.
The North Carolina State Fair is set for the Raleigh state fairgrounds from October 12-22, 2023
A $2.5-billion-dollar bond referendum is slated to be placed on the November ballot this year, as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) looks for support to fund 30 different projects in the school district.
Five Asheville-area residents are suing the city in federal court for refusing to appoint them to the local Human Relations Commission. The residents claim they were rejected because they are white.

HbAD1

Federal grant expands midwifery care for North Carolina
Pirates achieve historic sponsored activities funding
Innovative new MBA pathway provides leadership experiences for students, companies
Program immerses educators in conflict history, culture
5,400 students descend on campus for the new academic year
ECU undergrads find guidance in SECU Public Fellows Internship program

HbAD2

Psychology major inspired by role in data internship

HbAD3

 
Back to Top